The
Special Forces Combat Assault Rifle,
[1][2] or
SCAR, is a modular
rifle made by
Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FNH) for the
U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition. This family of rifles consist of two main types. The SCAR-L, for light, is chambered in the
5.56x45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for heavy, fires
7.62x51mm NATO. Both are available in
Long Barrel and
Close Quarters Combat variants. The FN SCAR system completed low rate initial production testing in June 2007.
[3] After some delays, the first rifles began being issued to operational units in April 2009, and a battalion of the US [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/75th_Ranger_Regiment_(United_States)]75th Ranger Regiment[/url] will be the first large unit deployed into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009.
[4]//
OverviewThe SCAR is manufactured in two main versions;
Light (SCAR-L, Mk 16 Mod 0) and
Heavy (SCAR-H, Mk 17 Mod 0). The L version fires
5.56x45mm NATO using improved
STANAG (
M16) magazines. The H fires the more powerful
7.62x51mm NATO from a newly designed 20-round magazine (this full-sized cartridge makes the SCAR-H a
battle rifle). Different length barrels will be available for
close quarters battle and for longer-range engagements. The initial solicitation indicated that the SCAR-H would also be chambered for the
7.62x39mm M43 cartridge. However, FN is not currently offering other calibers.
The Mk 16 Mod 0 will be replacing the
M4A1, the Mk 18
CQBR and the
Mk 12 SPR currently in SOCOM service. The Mk 17 Mod 0 will replace the
M14 and
Mk 11 sniper rifles.
The SCAR features an integral, uninterrupted
Picatinny rail on the top of the aluminum receiver, two removable side rails and a bottom one that can mount any MIL-STD-1913 compliant accessories. It has a polymer lower receiver with an
M16 compatible pistol grip, flared magazine well, and raised area around magazine and bolt release buttons. The front sight flips down for unobstructed use of optics and accessories. The rifle uses a 'tappet' type of closed gas system much like the
M1 Carbine while the bolt carrier otherwise resembles the
Stoner 63 or
Heckler & Koch G36.
The SCAR is built at the FN Manufacturing LLC, plant in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Fabrique Nationale introduced a semi-automatic version of the SCAR modular rifle system, the
16S (Light) and
17S (Heavy), at the end of 2008.
[5][6] This version of the SCAR is designed for the law enforcement and commercial markets, and is manufactured in Fredricksburg, Virginia, United States.
In July 2007, the US Army announced a limited competition between the
M4 Carbine, FN SCAR,
HK416, and the previously-shelved
HK XM8. Ten examples of each of the four competitors were involved. During the testing, 60,000 rounds apiece were fired from each of the 40 carbines in an "extreme dust environment." The purpose of the shootoff was for assessing future needs, not to select a replacement for the M4.
[7]During the test, the SCAR suffered 226 stoppages ranking second to the XM8 with 127 stoppages, but less compared to the M4 with 882 stoppages and the HK 416 with 233. This test was based on two previous systems assessments that were conducted using the M4 Carbine and
M16 rifle at Aberdeen in 2006 and the summer of 2007 before the third limited competition in the fall of 2007. The 2006 test focused only on the M4 and M16. The Summer 2007 test had only the M4, but increased lubrication. Results from the second test resulted in a total of 307 stoppages for the M4 after lubrication was increased, but did not explain why the M4 suffered 882 stoppages with that same level of lubrication in the third test.
[8][9]The SCAR was one of the weapons displayed to
U.S. Army officials during an invitation-only Industry Day on November 13, 2008. The goal of the Industry Day was to review current carbine technology for any situation prior to writing formal requirements for a future replacement for the
M4 Carbine.
[10][11]Enhanced Grenade Launcher ModuleIntroduced in 2004 as an addition, the
Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (EGLM), officially referred to as the
FN40GL, or
Mk 13 Mod 0, is a 40 mm grenade launcher based on the 'GL1' designed for the
F2000. The FN40GL is marketed in both an
L and
H model, for fitting the appropriate SCAR variant.
[12]. The EGLM system features a double action trigger and a swing out chamber. These offer two advantages over the
M203 system, the former meaning the launcher does not need to be re-cocked if the grenade does not fire, and the latter meaning longer grenades can be used.
IAR variantIn 2008, a variant of the FN SCAR was one of four finalist rifles for the
Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR) competition. The IAR is a
United States Marine Corps requirement for a lightweight automatic rifle for squad automatic rifle use.
[13] The FN entrant is different from existing SCAR versions in that it combines
closed bolt operation (fires from bolt forward / chambered cartridge) with
open bolt operation (fires from bolt to the rear, no chambered cartridge), switching automatically from closed to open bolt as the weapon's barrel heats up during firing. There have been previous firearms with mixed open/closed bolt operation, but the automatic temperature-based operating mode switch is an innovation. The IAR competition is expected to result in US Marine Corps procurement of up to 6,500 automatic rifles over five years.
[14]
موضوع: FN SCAR 
2009-12-30, 01:04
